Sensing safety devices

Abstract

Safety apparatuses for objects having at least one nut are disclosed. Contemplated apparatuses comprise a base, one or more nut caps, and one or more electronic sensors configured to acquire data related to a corresponding nut, wheel or tire. In some embodiments, a physical nut rotation indicator that can readily be observed by an operator is included, and a retention wall disposed on the base can operate in conjunction with the physical nut rotation indicator to block a rotation of a nut. Apparatuses are preferably configured to remain stable in harsher environments.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A safety apparatus comprising:
 a base having an outside portion and an inside portion; 
 a nut cap rotatably coupled with the base and protruding from the top portion of the base; 
 a nut rotation indicator coupled with the nut cap and configured to rotate with the nut cap, wherein the nut rotation indicator is positioned to juxtapose the inside portion of the base; 
 at least one electronic sensor coupled with the base and configured to obtain at least one of a nut data and a wheel data. 
 
     
     
       2. The safety apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the base comprises a retention wall sized and dimensioned to limit a rotation of the nut rotation indicator. 
     
     
       3. The safety apparatus of  claim 2 , further comprising a contact region coupled to the retention wall and configured to contact the nut rotation indicator. 
     
     
       4. The safety apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one electronic sensor is disposed on an indicator pathway of the base. 
     
     
       5. The safety apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one electronic sensor is configured to obtain the nut data, and wherein the nut data comprises a rotation. 
     
     
       6. The safety apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one electronic sensor is configured to obtain the wheel data, and wherein the wheel data is associated with at least one of a wheel rotation, a wheel temperature, a wash-boarding, an imbalance and a wobble. 
     
     
       7. The safety apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one electronic sensor is at least partially covered by a rubber composite. 
     
     
       8. The safety apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a power unit coupled with the at least one electronic sensor and disposed on the base. 
     
     
       9. The safety apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one light configured to provide a visual alert when the contact region comes into contact with the indicator. 
     
     
       10. The safety apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the visual alert comprises at least one of a turning on, a turning off, a change in color, a change in brightness and a change in pattern in the at least one light. 
     
     
       11. The safety apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one sensor is configured to transmit sensor data to a display of a device via a sensor interface. 
     
     
       12. The safety apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the device comprises at least one of a mobile phone, a computer and a tablet. 
     
     
       13. The safety apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the device is located in a control center associated with a company monitoring a plurality of safety apparatuses. 
     
     
       14. The safety apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the nut cap is press fit with the base and configured to freely rotate with respect to the base. 
     
     
       15. The safety apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the nut cap comprises tapered internal splines. 
     
     
       16. The safety apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the nut cap is configured to form a partial vacuum seal around the corresponding nut. 
     
     
       17. The safety apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a nut rotation indicator coupled with the nut cap and configured to rotate with the nut cap, wherein the nut rotation indicator is positioned to juxtapose the inside portion of the base, and wherein the base comprises an alert hole that allows at least a portion of the nut rotation indicator to be viewed through the outside portion of the base. 
     
     
       18. The safety apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the base is a ring-shaped base. 
     
     
       19. The safety apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the base is configured to substantially seal against a nut supporting surface of an object to which the apparatus is coupled.